Lithuanian bus drivers protest gay ads

May 14, 2007
From wire reports

Concerns about gay rights in the Baltics flared again when Lithuanian trolleybus drivers refused to drive vehicles carrying advertisements encouraging sexual tolerance.
The Leituyos Rytas daily newspaper on May 12 reported that the advertisements, placed by the Lithuanian Gay League, were removed from the sides of trolleybuses.
Drivers were offended by the advertisements, which carried slogans such as “A gay (person) can serve in the police,” “A lesbian can work at school,” and “Homosexual employees can be frank.”
Similar advertisements are due to be placed on buses in Vilnius next week.
The president of the LGL, Vladimir Simonko, said the group paid 17,000 litas (5,000 euro) for the ads to improve social cohesion.
The money was granted by the European Union and the Lithuanian government.

password reminder